Iconica Mastering on SoundBetter

Recording, mixing and mastering studio situated in Los Angeles. Built in 2019, our full analog/digital hybrid system captures the weight and life of analog circuitry, while maintaining the flex and tweakability of digital. As a mastering studio, 95% of our processing is done through outboard EQ, compression, limiting and analog spacial technology

We're excited to offer two mastering options, each one tailored specifically to the artists' vision.

The first option is our classic 2-track mastering, the industry standard. We take your finished mix and process it through our outboard equipment. A typical chain for a pop/hip hop/indie master follows:

1. In-the-box corrective EQ -> D/A Apollo x16 conversion
2. Two precisely-calibrated analog console channels w/ subtle EQ sweetening if necessary ->
3. Neve Portico Master Buss Compressor adding tailored compression and limiting while enhancing the soundstage ->
4. A/D-> Apollo x16 conversion
5. Final in-the-box optimization.

Our second option is "Mastering from Stems". This modern process involves collecting your main stems (drum group, instruments group, bass, vocal group and effects group) from your finished mix, and processing them through our console and Neve summing mixer to a new 2-track. The mastering process is then applied, resulting in an even punchier and tighter overall master with greater separation of elements.

Our combination of musical taste, engineering experience and high quality outboard hardware is guaranteed to give you, the client, an amazing result.

Since we are a fairly new mastering studio, we are happy to offer amazingly affordable rates for top-quality analog mastering to hep build up our body of work.

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

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Interview with Iconica Mastering

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: We provide mastering services tailored to the vision of our clients.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: We prefer to work with brand new artists to share in the process of creating something novel and forward-reaching.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: When possible, avoid mixing your own music and avoid mastering your own mix.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: While our small group of engineers share important skill sets, knowledge and experience. The most valuable tool we posses is arguably taste in the sonics of music.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: To a song, we finish what the artist started with an objective ear. Not only do we bring the track up to competitive status in terms of loudness, we also compliment the original vision of the song. Our goal is quite simply to make the sonics of a song powerful and pleasurable for the listener.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: We run a hybrid system with a heavy reliance on analog equipment. We start with a vintage Trident console (a notoriously popular rock board, but also used on mixes like Madonna's "Like a Virgin"). Then we get into the more modern pieces, summing our console channels through our 8816 by Neve, adding weight and tightness to the low end, warming up the mids and preserving high end clarity. Finally, we add dynamic processing with the Neve Portico Master Bus Processor, a unit specifically designed for mastering - we love the spacial manipulation and the transparent yet powerful compressors - this adds texture and punch that is only possible outside the box.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: We are awed by the magic accomplished at Bernie Grundman Mastering, as well as the engineers as Sterling Sound. Our mixing hero is no doubt Bruce Swedien based on his creative and groundbreaking work as a recordist and engineer.